Shout and wave no more — it is the age of the ride-hailing app. Investors have poured more than $8bn into the sector, as a number of platforms transform the face of transportation and logistics in cities around the world.

Although Uber leads in funds raised, the trend goes far beyond the US company. It is a late-comer in many large markets outside the US and consolidation is making many of its rivals even stronger — such as the merger of Kuaidi and Didi in China, and Ola’s acquisition of TaxiForSure in India.

Pictured below is a time lapse of the largest ride-hailing companies, launching in major cities where they still operate.